History

Ivy Arabians has an impressive collection of mares and some super youngstock to look out for in the future. The stud is a lifelong passion for Tina Mattocks, for whom it all began as a small child exploring the African bush atop her first steed, a tall grey named Eclipse. Together, they lost many afternoons to the Nanyuki trails so on returning to the UK, it seemed that something was missing until in 1969, she began working part-time for Ann Unwin of Topcroft Hall. It was here that she first encountered the Crabbet Arabian, meeting Mantella (Manalix x Tessra), who went on to win the Princess Muna Saddle of Honour.
In 1980, Tina acquired her first pure-bred Arabian from Emma Bennet, the beautiful two-year-old chestnut filly Blue Vanity (Silver Blue x Silver Fawn) who would become the foundation mare for Ivy Arabians. Vanity gave Tina and husband Trevor numerous foals, including a half Andalusian mare Vanity’s Folly (by Ultimado). The fledgling stud was placed on hold for a short time and Vanity was loaned to another breeder for whom she produced some very classy Anglos and a smart pure-bred filly Golden Fawn (by Golden Silver).
On her return to Ivy Arabians, Vanity was bred to St John (Bright Shadow x Sivetta), owned by the renowned Maureen de Popp. The following year, in 1992, Vanity had her final foal, the wonderful filly Sirella Blue: bright and gentle, she was to become Ivy’s first real superstar. Though small, she was superbly put together and naturally shone under saddle, being twice third at the Horse of the Year Show. “Charlotte” prompted a very jolly adventure for the whole Mattocks family as they tripped to Verona in 1999 for the European Championships. The elation as she was crowned European Champion Ridden Mare and Reserve European Champion Ridden Arabian is something that none of them will forget. She returned home for maternal duties and the Mattocks’ love of the biddable and versatile Crabbet/Old English lines drew them to Caroline Sussex’s Binley Stud and Prince Sadik (Silver Gauntlet x Princess Alia). 2001 saw the arrival of the strong colt Sha’heil Ibn Sadik. Sadly, Charlotte suffered an acute colic from which she could not be saved, leaving two month old “Alfie” in the care of his human guardians and his granddam, Vanity. Alfie thrived and grew into a very handsome gelding, memorably winning the Reserve Junior Male and Reserve Supreme titles at Fenland. With a ridden career planned, Deirdre Hyde of the W’rsan Stables in the United Arab Emirates spotted him and acquired him for the farm’s endurance ambitions.
In 1991, Tina and Trevor had approached Rosemary Archer’s famed Worth Stud hoping to find a 100% Crabbet mare to further their programme with a straight Crabbet family line. The following year, the family welcomed the two year old chestnut filly to the stud, Siala by Shiffal (Prince Saraph x Silvern Dream) and out of Sa’lilah (Silvern Flame x Sunset). Siala is the only Sa’lilah daughter to leave the Worth Stud and is rather strong willed and knows her own mind; she was lightly shown, but her main role was always to be a broodmare and she has given Ivy Arabians three fantastic children; so fantastic they have all been retained! Tina recounts: “We first put her to Golden Silver, a local boy with the lovely Silver Blue lines we all so admire. The result was Rosaliah Gold (Rosie), born in 1996. Now in her teens, she has done it all. She was placed third in a very strong ridden mare class at the UKIAHS and was also Reserve European Champion Ridden Mare in 2004. She is such a conscientious horse, very aware of pleasing people, and she has really proved her worth as a broodmare.”
Siala was also sent to Prince Sadik, but was not at all interested until, from a nearby field, the young Grecian Idyll (Silvern Idyll x Grecian Gilt) answered her calls. A quick telephone call to Tina had the match approved and the result was the 100% Crabbet filly Saraphina Sunset, born in 2004 and about whom the whole family are enthused. Daughter Samantha describes her as: “Pretty, feminine, elegant and with a true ‘look at me’ attitude that has captivated all who have seen her. She is as yet unshown, a hidden gem living a happy life in the paddock, but she will be set to work soon!”
A repeat of this breeding was arranged for a 2006 foal, but a severe uterine torsion meant that Siala needed an emergency caesarean section and the prognosis was uncertain. She was rushed to Rossdales Equine Hospital at Newmarket and after an hour in surgery, a colt foal was delivered who had a real determination to live: Spirit of Dreams was born. Amazingly, both Siala and “Sammie” survived the surgery and were able to be reunited. It is only since talking to vets around the world today that the family appreciates what a true miracle he is; none have encountered a 100% successful caesarean section before. Sammie is now rising three and becoming a very handsome, striking straight Crabbet colt and is definitely one to look out for.
The third family group at the stud is that of Crystal Belladonna (Donax x Bright Crystal): another strong chestnut whose personality is larger than her 14.2hh frame. Now 24 years old, she remains absolutely head of the herd – a position she claimed almost instantly upon her arrival in 1999 as Samantha’s foundation mare. Previously competed in ridden, jumping and in-hand classes, Crystal was sent to the much-admired PHA Silvern Risalm (Silvern Sceptre x Rislina). Samantha was not to be disappointed when in April 2004, a beautiful high-percentage Crabbet filly arrived: Crystal Silvern Aphrodite (“Lucy”), owned in partnership between Samantha and Tina.
As a three-year-old, Lucy stood Reserve Norfolk-bred Arabian at the Royal Norfolk Show. Her occasionally sparky personality lends itself to the show-ring, but the rapport between Samantha and this mare is unique. The sweet-tempered side of Lucy has flourished further since 27 April this year when she gifted Ivy Arabians with Masha’allah, a brilliant grey colt by LVA Maximus (Espano Estopa x Challon Salana). Samantha is smitten – he is all she hoped for and adds type, charisma and presence to their programme. At 63% Crabbet, he infuses a little of something new, but can still produce over 75% Crabbet horses on straight mares. But this is all in the future and for now, “Manny” is more than happy to lark around in the paddocks. A second breeding to LVA Maximus is planned before Lucy will begin a ridden career. A filly would be perfect to carry the Crystal line on to the next generation.
To bring the story very much full circle, Tina followed up a slightly strange telephone call back in 2004 to find Golden Fawn, Vanity’s pure-bred daughter from her lease period. It was only right that she came home and the two mares were soon a real duo again, despite being apart for 12 years. Vanity passed away in 2007, just a few months short of her 30th birthday, but the following May, and aged 18, Golden Fawn produced her first foal, Midnight Shadow, a bay colt by Final Shadow. Just four days before, her half-sister Rosie gave birth to the brilliant filly Shams Al Thahabiyya (by Psadishio Ibn Esstashan). Shamsi is in the care of Kim Jones for the 2009 season and is set to make her show-ring debut at the Wessex Show in June. A very flashy and correct filly, this third-generation Ivy Arabians breeding can trot for hours and, they hope, for 20s! In both Shamsi and Manny, the Mattocks family have made considered infusions of outside bloodlines, adding a little more finesse to their Crabbet and Old English genepool. The current plans are to bring another ridden mare out onto the UK show circuit while the youngsters are run on and to look out for a suitable straight Crabbet stallion to breed Rosie to in 2010.

- Words by Laura Pyke (extract from The Arabian Magazine June 2009)